The Benefits of an NAACP Membership

Why Should YOU Join the NAACP of Bucks County? 

Joining the NAACP means being part of a historic movement for civil rights and equity. As a member, you’ll help protect voting rights, support youth and education programs, and stand up against injustice in your community. Be the voice that makes a difference.

We invite you to become a Member! Continue reading to learn more.

How it All Started

In February 1909, in response to the Springfield riots of 1908, a group of inter-racial activists signed a call for racial justice on the centennial of Lincoln's birth and the NAACP was created. Some 60 people signed the pledge including W.E.B. DuBois and Ida B. Wells. Our organization is the largest and most recognized civil rights organization in the United States.

Today, the organization proudly reflects a diverse global community of over half a million members and supporters, representing a wide range of races, religions, nationalities, and ethnic backgrounds.

NAACP members at a rally to 'Cancel Student Loans'

Common Misconceptions

Many people assume that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), means membership and benefits only for Black and Brown folks. Not true. We fight for the civil liberties of all Americans. Since its inception, the organization retained the phrase, “colored people,” in honor of tradition.

Another common misconception is that the NAACP is an arm of the Democratic Party. It is not. We are a non-partisan organization. What is true, is that many issues we support align with democratic party values. Some of these issues may conflict with the views of other political parties, such as support for the LGBTQ community, criminal justice reform, environmental justice, education equity, and voting rights.

What We Believe

We believe everyone deserves proper healthcare, food and housing; deserves fair, cost-of-living wages, and we support worker’s unions. We believe medical care is a right and not a privilege, and that we all have the right to vote. We hold sacred that everyone has the right to speak freely without fear of discrimination, recrimination, or brutality of any kind.

When one American’s rights are threatened, everyone's rights are at risk. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Our Historic Wins in the Legal System:

The NAACP has been instrumental in several landmark legal victories that reshaped civil rights in America. Over the decades, the NAACP has won legislation to outlaw discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin in public accommodations and in employment. We've prevailed on voting rights as well as safeguards for minorities in housing and education. We also lobbied for and supported integration of the Armed Forces.

'A Man Was Lynched Yesterday' flag was flown at the NAACP National Headquarters from 1936-1938 to protest the lynchings of Black people in America. The landlord forced the NAACP to take the flag down or face eviction.

In 1954, the NAACP’s legal team won one of the most important Supreme Court cases: Brown v. Board of Education, declaring segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Other landmark cases include Smith v. Allwright (1944), Shelley v. Kraemer (1948), Missouri ex rel. Gaines v. Canada (1938), and Cooper v. Aaron (1958) These victories—driven by NAACP legal teams—set legal precedents that continue to influence civil rights today.

After fighting for decades, the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act was signed by President Biden on March 29, 2022. The journey to this legislation was arduous, with over 200 attempts to pass anti-lynching laws thwarted over more than a century due to political opposition and filibusters. This law not only serves as a long-overdue acknowledgment of past injustices but also reinforces the nation's dedication to combating hate crimes and upholding the civil rights of all its citizens. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund issued a statement on the passing of this long overdue legislation.

What is Happening to our Rights Today?

Trump’s Executive Orders and his Administration’s Project 2025 agenda is a constant bombardment to the rights of Americans that the NAACP has fought to uphold for over a century.

Roe v. Wade, allowing a woman’s right to choose has already been struck down. Education, worker’s rights, LGBTQ rights, to name just a few are all under attack. Most alarming is the SAVE Act. If enacted, it will prevent millions of Americans from exercising their constitutional right to vote.

What Can You Do?  

We will not stand by easily and let our rights be taken away. This means we need your help. Whether a member or not, you can visit our website and click on the dropdowns: 'Work and Resources', 'Events', 'News', 'Get Involved', to learn more about what we do right here in Bucks County.